The Rooftop Bar

Surf culture runs through the cocktail program at The Rooftop Bar. Signature drinks take their names from surf breaks along the San Diego coastline, giving the menu a sense of place that starts before the first sip. The Buccaneer pairs Uncle Nearest whiskey with Cynar, amaretto, sage and lime, while the Bird Rock brings together Casamigos Blanco, grapefruit, pomegranate and agave. The Windansea mixes vodka with aloe liqueur, vermouth, ginger, pineapple and cucumber for a lighter coastal profile.

The menu extends beyond signature cocktails with beer, wine, bottle service and low-ABV options for a slower afternoon by the pool. Non-alcoholic cocktails are part of the experience as well, including spirit-free takes on familiar favorites, so the rooftop works just as well for a group ordering across different drinking preferences.

As the evening winds down, the Nightcap espresso martini flight offers another way to explore the cocktail menu, with Banana Brûlée, Cloud Nine and Midnight Roast pours. Whether you arrive for an afternoon drink or stay through sunset, the bar program is designed to match the pace of the rooftop from day into night.

The food menu is built for the way people naturally spend time on a rooftop: order a few plates for the table, graze between drinks or stay for something more substantial as afternoon turns into evening. Chilled seafood, shareable small plates and larger dishes give groups plenty of flexibility without turning the experience into a formal sit-down meal.

Start with oysters, tuna tartare, marinated sea bass or a seafood tower, or share plates such as grilled artichoke, charred mushrooms and shrimp toast. For a fuller meal, the menu moves into dishes including seafood Provençal, lamb à la brick, prime steak and a mezze platter.

Desserts bring a playful finish with dishes such as s’mores panna cotta and baklava bread pudding. The kitchen serves through 9 PM, making it possible to stay from sunset drinks through dinner without leaving the rooftop.

Make the rooftop your home base for the day with a private cabana overlooking the coast. The pool deck at The Rooftop Bar is lined with lounge seating, umbrellas and cabanas, creating dedicated spaces for groups who want a little more room while staying close to the pool, bar and rooftop atmosphere.

Cabanas feature plush lounge seating and personal TVs, giving you a comfortable place to settle in between drinks, food and time by the pool. They also work well for groups planning to spend several hours on the rooftop rather than stopping by for a quick cocktail.

Cabana reservations are handled separately from standard table reservations, so guests looking for a dedicated poolside space should reserve in advance. With the Pacific in view throughout the day, it is an easy way to stretch a rooftop visit from late morning into sunset.

The Rooftop Bar changes throughout the day. Afternoons center on the pool deck, cabanas, happy hour and open-air lounging, while sunset brings a busier crowd and a stronger music-driven atmosphere.

At 9 PM each night, the rooftop transitions into a 21+ lounge environment. The music turns up, the dance floor becomes part of the experience and the setting shifts from daytime pool deck to an evening rooftop bar above Oceanside.

Guests visiting later in the evening should be prepared to present a valid ID. If your plans include dinner, sunset and the nighttime scene, arriving earlier gives you the chance to experience both sides of the rooftop in one visit.